Metal-crimping machine.



A. JOHNSTON. METAL GRIMPING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1909. Y

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

i El@ ii www@ 3f l j r|| 1@ Ul I A A JOHNSTON. METAL GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLmATIoN FILED MAY 22, 1909.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. JUHNSTGN. METAL GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1909. 4 Qr;559 x Patented Dec. 28, 909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. JGHNSTON,

METAL GRIMPING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 22. 1909.

@@gyg@ Patented Dec. 28, EGQ.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

@Milne RUNrrED srArEs rarENr OFFICE, l

- l ALLEN JOHNSTON, or OTTUMWA, IOWA.

\ METAL-CRIMPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 28, 1909.

Application led May 22, 1909. Serial -N o. 497,612.

i To 1l-whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALLEN JOHNSTON, of Ottumwa, Iowa, have invented a newand usefulImprovement in Sheet-Metal-.Crimping Machines, which`invention Vis fully set forth inthe following'. specification.

This invention relates to means for crimpv ing strips of sheet metal.

. The more .particular object in viewis to provide a machine for`automatically and regularly crimping strips of sheet metal designed`for use in making the toothed 'por- 'tion of gear wheels, suoli, forexample, as the gear wheels shown and described in my application forLetters -Patent Serial No.

' 420,690, filed March L12, 1908. 'While this is the special object inview, the invention isnot limited to crimping sheet metal for thisspecificpurpose, but, as will be manifest from .reading the descriptionherein, it is applicable to the crimping of sheet metal for a variety ofuses.

j According to the present invention, the

regular and uniform crimping of the sheet metal strip is effected byhaving the strip of metal gripped between two sets of jaws at a distanceapart equal to the length of the strip required to form that portion ofthe crimp extending from the center of the crown of one crimp to thecenter of the crown of the next succeeding crimp, and

then bringing the two sets of jaws together whereby the straight portionof the strip thus lying between the two sets of jaws is bent up into thecrimp, means'being employed to control vthe direction of the crimp l sothat it will always be uniformly .in the same direct-ion, -that is, inthe present instance `shall always be crimped upward. Preferably, themovement between the two sets Ofjaws is bythe present inventionobta-ined byI having one pair ofholding jaws *stationary-during thecrimping movement, j while the other pair moves forward toward .thestationary pair of jaws to effect the crimp. While this 'particularmovement lis .shown in the drawings, andis the one preferred,theinvention is not limited to this kind of movement between the two setsof the two sets of jaws might be employed with.

jaws, since' it is manifest that the two sets of jaws might move towardeach other, or other kinds of relative movement between the same result.A crimp having been effected,- the vibratory pair of jaws moves backwardlto takea new hold upon the strip of sheet metal, the extent of thisbackward movementbeing determined by suitable stop mechanism, whichlikewise determines thc amount of metal entering into the nextsucceeding crimp. Upon the next succeeding forward movement of thevibrating jaws, the relatively stationary or holding pair of jaws open,and as the vibrating jaws move forward again, the entire strip of metal,iu

lcluding both the crimped and the uncrimped portion thereof, is advanceda distance equal .tdr that between the centersofthe crowns of twoadjoining crimps, when there is a pause 1n the forward movement of thevibratory crimped strip. Immediately thereafter, the

`vi-loratory jaws continue their forward move-v ment, and the nextsucceeding crimp is formed. It will thus be seen, that the vi.

bratory jaws perform the double function of feeding the strip forwardand-crimping the same, and thatv lthe holding jaws are stationary so faras any relative movement in a right line to or from't-he crimping jawsis concerned, their only movement being an trating the invention, isdisclosed inl the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood thatsaid drawings are for the. purpose of illustration only, and are notiii-- tended to define the limits of the invention,

reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In said drawings, Figure 1l is a front elevation of the machine, withthe parts in the position which they occupy at the instant when a crimphas beencompleted; Fig. 2 is a like view with the parts'in the position.which they occupy just before the feeding movement of the vibratoryjaws begins; Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective of the holding jaws, theparts being separated for better showing their construction; Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the upper end of the v1- bratory member with itsattached parts;

jaws, and the holding jaws .close upon the Fig. 5 is a rear elevation ofthe machine, showing the cam mechanism for controlling thc opening' andclosing of the holding jaws; Figs. 6 and 7 are details of the cams con`-trolling the vibratory jaws; and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of themachine showing the position of the various cams on the main shaft.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicatelike parts, 1 indicates the framework of the machine, of any suitableconstruction, and 2 apower shaft having suitable bearings in theframe 1. A

constantly driven ily-wheel 3 is mounted to be connected to ordisconnected from the shaft 2, by means' of any suitable clutchmechanism 4 controlled by the workmen, as through the lever 5. Asthis'clutchmechanism forms no particular part of the present invention,it need not be further described herein. Pivoted to the frame 1 at 6 isa vibratory lever 7, whose upper end or head is provided .with a flange8, moving under the lip of a bracket 9, whereby the lever 7 is guided inits vibrations and held ksecurely to its work. A spring 10` reactsbetween a bracket 111- and the vibratory lever 7, tending to throw thelever from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to'l that shown in Fig.

2, the limit of the'movements of the lever under the influence of thespring 10 being controlled by a screw 12 passing-'through a! bracket 13on the frame, andprovided with the usual lock nut 14.

Mounted on theshaft 2 is a cam15 bearing againstan anti-frictionalroller 16 car.- ried 'in the'head of the vibratory lever 7. The outlineof the cam 15 is such that when the cam is in the :position shown inFig. 2, the spring 10 throws the lever 7 t-o the right,

' and the further revolution of the'cam inthe direction indicated by thearrowvbrings a ,n portion of the cam 15" (which is concentric with theshaft 2) opposite the roller 1G, thereby 4producing a dwell in themovement of the lever`7.. Immediately thereafter, that portion 15of :thecam contacts with the roller 1G, acting to quickly throw the lever 7from right to left, and at thc termination of the active part 15 of thecam 15 occurs 'a'second dwell 15', succeeding Vwhich the. diameter ofthe cam gradually increases,

as at 15".

Pivoted upon the vibratory lever at 17.- ls a lever 18 normally pulleddownward by a.;

spring 19 reacting between the two levers 7 and 18.y Onthat end ofthelever 18 adjacent to the power shaft 2 is a friction roller 20, whichbears against a cam 21. This cam is of uniform diameter except at a part21', which is shaped as shown in Fig. 7. When the part 21 is oppositethe roller 20, spring 19 deprcsses the forward end of the lever 18, but,when the roller 2,0 bears against the remaining portion of the cam 21,the forward forward face of the head 'ing into the head of the lever anda second screw 26vbea1s on the top of the jaw. By means of the twoscrews 25 and 2G, the desired position of the jawv 22 may be secured andmaintained.

On the forward end ofthe lever 18 is an upwardly projecting rib 27,which 'when the rear endof the lever 18 is pressed downward, bearsforcibly against the under side of the strip 28 of sheet metal to becrimped, and acts to lgrip the saidsheet firmly between said rib 27.andthe lower edge of the jaw 22, the bearing of the rib 27 being slightlyin advance of the bearing of the lower 'edge of the jaw 22,` forthepurpose of directing the bending of the crimp upward. Preferably, and ashere shown, this rib 27 is not formed integrally with the lever 18,

but'is' formed on a'relnovable block of metal 29,.,secured by anysuitable means, as by a set screw 30, to the'forward end ofthe leveri118.. Itwill be observed thatthe jaw 22 and 'the rib 27 constitute apair of vibratory jaws between which the sheet metal strip 28 isgripped, for a purpose which will more fully hereinafter appear.

Mounted ablemeans, as a screw 33'.

chine isa rock shaft 34'having'keyed thereto an arm 35 (Figs. 1 and 2),whichfprojects over the jaw 32 and carries a holding jaw 3G providedwith three toothed corrugatons approximately'the shape of the spacesinterveningbet'ween the crimps or teeth'of the crimped sheet metalstrip,as will be clearly understood byanfinspection of Fig. 3. This`holding jaw is 'secured tothe :arm' 35, as'by a screw 37. Passingthrough a vertical lhole or opening 38 inthe arm 35.a`nd the holding jaw3G is a stripping pin 39, whose upper end bears loosely against abracket 40 projecting outward fromthefram'e 1 of the machine. Thisstripping pin 39 is provided with an abutment 41, against which one endA of a spring 42 bears, while' the other end bears upon the top of thearm`35.

Referring'to Fig. 5, 43 isy a'l'ever shaped as shown in said gureandkeyed to the shaft 34, 'and' pivoted to tlie lower portion on anoutwardly projecting bracket 31 0n the main frame' is the lower memberof a pair of holding jaws, here showninthe 'form of an anvil block 32,the 'same beingyretained in position by 'any suit.-

which Mounted in the main frame of the 'ma-l l lof said lever 43 at 44isa second lever 45,

is shaped as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5,' and the cani 47 isprovided with Aa pin 48,

which contacts with the cam portion 49 on the lever 43 as the roller 46comes opposite the descending portion 47 on the c ain 47.

Passing through the end ofthe lever 45 opposite the ioller 46, is ascrew 50 whose upper end bears against a sleeve 51, mounted to turnloosely on the rock shaft 34, and arranged to be operated by a hiidle52. This sleeve 51 has a fia-t or cut-away portion 53, which by turninghandle 52 from a horizontal to a vertic'al position, may be broughtopposite the screw 50, thereby permitting the screw and the end of thelever 45 to which it is secured to move upward.

The operation of the machine as thus de scribed is as follows z-For thepurpose of inserting the strip of sheet metal to be crimped, the handle52 is turned from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 5 to a verticalposition, thereby bringing ,the ciit away face 53 onthe sleeve 51-opposite the set screw 50, whereupon spring'54, reacting between theframe of the machine andthe lever 43, elevates sa-id lever, thus rockingthe shaft 34 and the arm 35, and liftingA the holding jaw 36 up so thatthe sheet metal strip 28 may be inserted through the guide 55 (Figs. 1,2 and 8) between the jaws 22 and 27, and between the holding jaws 32 and36. This being done, the handle is thrown into the horizontal positionshown in Fig. 5, thus acting to again depress the leiger 43, and rockingthe shaft 34 andA arm to bring the holding jaw 36 down upon the sheetmetal strip, .where it is-held between the jaws 32 and 36. The sheetmetal strip being` thus in position, the operator connects the shaft 2with the fly wheel 3 by operating the clutch 4 through the medium of thetreadle lever 5, whereupon the vibratory lever 7 is advanced from theposition shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Eig. ,1. The several cams 15,21 and 47 are sqtiined that as the lever 7 starts to advance, tlieirearend of the lever 18 is forcibly depressed by reason of the fact that theroller 20 is out ofthe ciit-away portion 21 on the cani 21, so that thesheet metal strip is firmly gripped between the lower edge of the jaw 22and the 4rib 27 on the lever 18. During the first part of the advance ofthe lever 7, the roller c 16 thereon is in contact with the advancingportion 15 of the cani 15, andthe .pin 48 on the cain 47 is acting ontheportion 49,

ofithe lever to hold it elevated, thereby v elevating the holding jaw36, and permitting the strip 28 to be advanced or fed .for-` ward fromright to left-iin Fig. 2. While the pin 48 on vthe cam 47 isin the dwellportion 49 of thd-lever43Qthe roller 6 on the lever 45 is in the dwell'portion 4i of the cam 47, but as :the pin 48passes from under the dwellportion 49 of the lever 43, the

roller 46 comes in contact with the upward active portion' 47 of thecani .47, thereby forcibly depressing the lever 43, and thus bringingthe holding jaw -36 down firmly upon the sheet metal strip 28. Duringthis Vdescending movement of the jaw 36, the

dwell portion 1o of the cam 15 has been opposite the ro ler 16 on thevibratory lever 7, so that there ias been a slight momentary dwell inthe forward advance of the jaws 22 and 27 and the strip gripped thereby,but at the instant that the strip is grasped and held between theholding jaws 32 and 36, the

active portion 15.* of the cam 15 comes into contact with thevroller 16and the jaws 22 and 27 are then forcibly advanced to the p0- sitionshown in Fig. 1. The latter part of the advance of the jaws 22fand 27,Aacting in connection with the upward pressure on the under side of thestrip of sheet metal by the rib of jaw 27, gives the metal an upwardcrimp the exact shape of which is deteriniiied by the contoui of theshaping die '23 of the jaw 22 and the corresponding contour of theoppositely disposed shaping die on the holding jaw 36, as will beclearly understood by an inspection` of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The crimphaving' thus been formed, the cut-away portion 21 on the cani 21 comesopposite the roller 2O on the lever 18 at the same instant that thedescending portion on the cani 15 comes opposite the roller 16 on thevibratory lever 7,

so that the grip on the sheet metal strip between the jaws 22 and 27isrelieved, and at the saine instant the vibratory lever 7 is thrownfrom left vto right byv the action of the spring 10, the extent of suchthrow being determined by the position of the set screw 12 and thecontour of the/ cam 15.

--of the4 lever 7-the roller 2O rides out of the dwellvportion 21 of thecam 21, andthe strip is again firmly gripped between the.

` yjaws 22 and 27. As thisgripping action occurs, the dwell 15 von thecam 15 comes opposite the roller 1 6, and the vibratory lever 7therefore remains stationary'for an in istant, and it is at'this timethat the pin 48 on the cam 47 acts onthe cain portion 49 of the lever43, and that the roller 46 o-ii the -f lever 45 lenters the descendingportion 47- f of the cam 47, thereby elevating the holding jaw 36. Themetal strip is prevented from moving upward with the holding jaw 36 bythe action` of the stripping pin 39,

which is held down in its engagement with l the bracket 40 on the frame.

At the instant when the holding jaw 36 is raised above the crimpedstrip, the active -portion of the cam 15 comes opposite the roller 16 onthe lever 7, andadvances .the lever from right to left, therebyeffecting a feed of the crilnped strip from right to left over adistance equal to the space the dwell 4 of the cam 47, the lever 43, .Y

and with it the arm 35, is again rocked so as to throw the holding'jaw36 downward, the teeth on the under side of said jaw entering the spacesbetween .the crimps on the strip of sheet metal. Just'as this occurs,the roller 16k is actuated by the active cam portion 15 on the cam 15,and the vibratory'- leveris t-hen again advanced from right to left toeffect the crimp as before described. The holding jaw 36, the crimpingjaw 22, and the cams 15 and Q1 are all made removable, to theA end thatother corresponding parts mayv bevsubstituted therefor, to provide forcrimping sheets of metal of various thicknesses,.and to alsoprovide forelfecting crimps of varying form such as the right hand crimp in Fig. 1,where the inner sur faces of the, metal forming the crimp contact forthe whole or a part of the depth of the crimp, orsuch as the more openforms of crimp shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus, when it isldesired to crnnpa strip of sheet metal for l the purpose of forming the same into asheetr metal gear wheelV of'one pitch,

soA

one set offlcams and oneset of jaws may be employedfand whenga sheet ofmetal is to.

be crimped efor a ge'` Yfwheel having a differentnumber'of teethodiiferent pitch, a dif- -ferent set fof cams va djaws are employed.

When thischange islifnade, the throw of the vibratory leverl 7 has alsoto be altered, and this isreadily accomplished by means of theadjustable stop screw 12. By this simple means, provision is made for agreat variety of crimps, land on sheet metal strips of a great varietyLof thicknesses.

It will becobserved that once the sheet metal strip is vintroduced andthe crimping action begun, the machine continneswautoi matlcallytoiperform its functions, and to efiectivelycrimp the strip until theentire' strip has beencrimped, no attention being' necessary on thepart.of the operator, except to insert a new strip when the preceding one hasbeenfully crimped. l

Various obvious changes may be made in the constructionof detailed partsof the machine without departing from the spirit of the invention,andsuch variations are designed to be included in the accompanyingclaims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what is claimed is l. In a machinefor crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of two sets of grippingdevices seizing the strip at two points, a shaping die on each of saidsets of gripsets of gripping devices toward the other.

2. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of twoshaping dies which together have the contour of a crimp, two sets ofgripping devices seizing the strlp at two points, means moving one ofsaid sets of gripping devices ltoward the other and closing said dies onthe crimp.

3. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of twosets of gripping jaws seizing the strip` at two points with sufficient'of the strip between them to form a crimp, one member of each set ofYjaws having a shaping die, and means to bring the two sets of jawstogether to close the shaping dies and form the crimp.

4. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination ofa'pair of grippinO jaws arranged to grip thestrip of meta and hold itstationary, a shaping die on one of said jaws having the contour of oneside of the crimp to be formed, a second pair of gripping jaws arrangedto grip the strip of metal'at a suflicient distance away froln saidfirst set to forma crimp, a shaping die on one of said second set ofgripping aws, and means moving said second set of aws toward said irstset to form the crimp;

In a machinefor crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of ashaping die having tliecontour of one side of a crimp, meansreciprocating said die transversely to the strip, j asecond `shaping diehaving the contour Voif.tlie v other side of said crimp, and

`means reciprocating said second die lengthwise of saidstrip.

6. In amachinefor crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of agripping or holding device carrying a shaping die having the contour ofone side of a crimp, means reciprocating said holding device and dietransversely to the strip, a second gripping device engaging saidst'ripand carrying a shaping die having the contour of the other side of` saidcrimp, andV means reciprocating said second wise of said strip.

7. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of twosets of gripgripping device and die lengthsoV lping devices, and meansmoving one of said llO its

` form one complete crimp, a die on each of said sets of grippingdevices having the coni io tour of one side of a crimp, and means'reciprocating said sets of gripping means on lines transverse to eachother.

8. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of aStationary anvil,

a holding device having a. die conforming.

topart of the contour of a crimp, means reciprocating said holdingdevice toward and from said anvil, a gripping device having a dieconforming to the remaining part'of said crimp, and means reciprocatingsaid gripping device toward and from saidanvil on a line transverse tothe line of reciprocation of said holding device.

9. In a Vmachine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of ,aholding device for the strip, a die on said device having the contour ofone ,side or face of a crimp, with a reciprocating gripping device thegripping members of which consist of two elements one of said elementsbeing a shaping die having a contour conforming to the other side orface of said crimp, and the other gripping element constituting means tocontrol the direction of the crimp.

10. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of ananvil, a reciprocating holding device, a die on said holding devicehaving a contour corresponding to one face or side of a crimp, meansreciprocating said holding device with a dwell at the end both of the toand the fro motion thereof, a gripping device, means giving said devicea to yand fro motion with relation to said anvil, with -a dwell orinterruption in the movement toward said anvil, and a die carried bysaid device and having a contour. conforming to the other side or faceof said crimp.

11. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination of aforming jaw having on its face the contour 'of one side of a crimp, asecond jaw on which the strip is clamped by the first jaw, areciprocating jawl having on its face the contour of the other side ofthe crimp, a clamping jaw clamping the strip to the reciprocating jawand moving with it, and means reciprocating the two 'last named jaws.

12. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips to form gearing, twosets of gripping devices gripping the sheet metal strip at a suitabledistance apart to form a crimp for a tooth of the desired size, andmeans fore'- ing one of said gripping devices toward the other until theinner faces of the crimp contact with each other.

13. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips to form gearing, twosets of lgaipping devices gripping the sheet metal strip at a suitabledistance apart `to form a crimp for a tooth of the desired size, meanscontrolling` the direction of the crimp, and means forcing one of saidgripping devices toward the other until the inner faces of the crimpcontact with each other. l

14. In a machine for crimping sheet metal strips to form gearing, thecombination of means controlling the direction of the crimp, and meansforcing the inner surfaces of the metal of a crimp into contact witheach other.

15. In al machine for crimping sheet metal strips, the combination ofapair of vibratory feeding and crimpingjaws, means vibrating the same,means for varying the amplitude of vibration of said jaws, and meansreleasing said strip during the feed-` ing but seizing said strip duringthe crimping portion of each vibration.

16. In a machine for crimping sheet-metal strips, the combination of apair of vibratory feeding and crimping jaws, means vibrating the same,and means releasing said strip during the feeding but seizing said stripduring the crimping portion of each vibration.

, In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

ALLEN JOHNSTON. Witnesses:

Trios. E. Romans, F. A. VVnmHT.

